The Premier League week 16 game will bring football action to Villa Park, with hosts Aston Villa set to take on Liverpool, on Sunday 18 December 2011.
Aston Villa are coming off a commendable 2-1 win against Bolton on Matchday 15, just their second win in eight league games. Marc Albrighton broke Villa’s three-match goalscoring drought after 34 minutes and Stiliyan Petrov doubled the lead six minutes later. Bolton showed a better performance after the break, resulting in a narrowing of the margin of defeat, thanks to a goal from Ivan Klasnic. That being said, Villa were deserved winners, on the night. The first goal came when Albrighton converted a low cross from N’Zogbia, and the second was fortunate when Petrov’s shot deflected past defender Gary Cahill.
On matchday 15, Liverpool recorded a 1-0 win over QPR, in a match hosted by the Merseysiders at Anfield. Suárez scored the only goal of the game in the 48th minute, even as Liverpool left his supporters frustrated for much of the game, with several missed chances. Suárez was the main difference between the wingers and the Uruguayan forward created the chances that he did not know how to finish off. maxi also had a couple of missed chances and in the end Kenny Dalglish’s charges were relieved to take a full three points after veteran goalkeeper Cerny held them off between the QPR posts.
Head to head, in the last 10 years, Aston Villa and Liverpool have met in 20 league games, with Liverpool winning on 11 occasions and the Villans on 3, with the rest of the games ending in draws. The last time these teams met was in May 2011; that match played at Villa Park was won 1-0 by the locals.
Villa have won 3, drawn 3 and lost 4 of their last 10 league matches, while Liverpool have won 5, drawn 4 and lost the remaining 1 of their last 10 matches.
Currently in 9th place in the league table, Villans have hosted 7 home matches this season, winning 3, drawing and losing 2 in each of their remaining matches; The Merseysiders, who sit 6th in the league table, have had 4 wins and 3 losses in their 7 away games.
Aston Villa will have their task cut short to keep Liverpool at bay, with the Anfield side keen to keep up the momentum after their hard-fought victory last week.
Villa’s starting XI against Bolton: Bradley, Guzan, Alan Hutton, Richard Dunne, James Collins, Stephen Warnock, Mark Albrighton, Chris Herd, Stiliyan Petrov, Charles N’Zogbia, Darren Bent, Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Liverpool starting eleven against QPR: Jose Reina, Glen Johnson, Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger, Sanchez Jose Enrique, Rodriguez Maxi, Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing, Luis Suarez, Dirk Kuyt.